Tow truck operator claims Derry man used gun to stop repo

A N.H. State Police dog unit searches the yard of 11L Matthew Drive, Derry, Friday after a man who lives there allegedly held a handgun and threatened to shoot the driver of a tow truck who came to repossess the man's pickup, according to police. (HUNTER McGEE)

DERRY — Police responded to a house on Matthew Drive Friday after a man allegedly threatened a tow truck driver with a gun while the driver was trying to repossess his pickup.

The incident reportedly occurred around 5:30 a.m. when the tow truck driver for Recovery Solutions arrived at the house at 11L Matthew Drive to repossess the vehicle, police said.

The driver said he was preparing to tow it when a man came out of the residence. The man held a handgun and told the driver he would shoot him in the head if he did not get off of the property, according to police.

The tow truck driver told police a woman appeared in the doorway with a baseball bat, and the man then told the driver he was going to "beat his head in with a bat," police said. At some point during the incident the driver claims that the man stood in front of his tow truck to block him in while a female drove off with the truck he was there to repossess.

Officers initiated a criminal threat investigation and attempted to speak with the residents of 11L Matthew Drive. Police then obtained a warrant and searched the residence.

On Friday afternoon, several officers could be seen standing in front of the house. A Derry Crime Scene van was parked in the front, along with several other police vehicles. A police dog unit from the state police responded and a state trooper could be seen guiding the dog around the yard.

Police didn't say what, if anything, was found in the search.

No one was injured in this incident, and no arrests have been made at this time. The incident is being investigated by Derry police detectives.

Neighbors said police have been to the house numerous times in the past. A man and woman live in the home with several children, according to neighbors.

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